The 10 Biggest Pop Stars Who Dated Professional Athletes

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What is it about pop stars dating professional athletes that really capture the zeitgeist? From unexpected pairings to A-list matches that almost feel contrived, there’s something fun about seeing people from different sectors of celebrity cross over. Naturally, the news this week has been pretty fixated on one such example, but this is far from the only time that a creative has stepped onto the field in the name of love.

Some musicians who dated athletes stayed locked in for the long haul, like the Nashville Predators’ Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood, while others were just a fun blip on our radar. Read on for the ten romances between pop stars and athletes.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

It was the suite appearance that shook the world. Don’t we all remember where we were when we heard the words, “Taylor Swift is at the Chiefs game in Kansas City eating a piece of chicken with ketchup and seemingly ranch?” After the dissolution of her long-term relationship earlier this year, Taylor Swift has been rightfully leaning all the way into a single girl summer, but national pride has rarely been higher in America than after she dropped British rascal and all around problematic musician Matty Healy for a seemingly nice athlete who just likes to have a good time. It’s Miss Americana and the Chief’s Tight End, a domestic fairytale and the closest thing we have to a royal couple at the moment. No matter how this ends, we’ve all had a great time.

Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo

Daisy, Jessica Simpson, and Tony Romo, photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage)

The relationship between singer Jessica Simpson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo showcased just about every stereotype of celebrity romance. The two linked up after Simpson separated from Nick Lachey and spent just over a year together, during which they drew the ire of angry Cowboy fans. Of course, thanks to the misogynistic lens typically used for such high-profile couples, much of the wrath for Romo’s play landed on Simpson, who some Cowboys fans accused of distracting their quarterback from the game. The spectacle continued throughout the end of their time together, as Romo ended the relationship via email due to his suspicion that Simpson was seeing another of her famous ex-lovers: John Mayer.

Victoria Adams Beckham (Posh Spice) and David Beckham

Image via Instagram/@victoriabeckham

Sometimes, a celebrity pairing just makes perfect sense. In 1997, David Beckham was becoming a tour de force for Manchester United and assuming the role of a major British sex symbol in the process. Meanwhile, Victoria Adams was at the peak of her powers as Posh Spice in her group The Spice Girls, whose 1997 album Spiceworld cemented the quintet as superstars. Together, they represented the pinnacle of “Cool Britannia,” and reflected a combination of three major cultural exports: English football, English pop music, and English fashion. Their highly-publicized relationship, which still continues over 25 years later, was almost immediately mired in intense pressure and encroachment — something that will be covered in depth in the soccer player’s upcoming Netflix documentary, Beckham.

Russell and Ciara Wilson

Image via Instagram/@dangerusselwilson

It’s always nice to see a couple manage to keep their relationship healthy and loving despite the intensity of the spotlight. By all accounts, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russel Wilson and multi-hyphenate performer Ciara have been able to do just that. The two met in 2015, tying the knot in July of the following year. Since then, they’ve welcomed multiple children into their family, sparked a viral Ellen moment, and have remained strong through red carpets and celebrity galas. Maybe love really does exist!

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher

Image via Instagram/@mfisher1212

Carrie Underwood and former NHL player Mike Fisher met 15 years ago after Fisher attended one of Underwood’s concerts and now have two sons together. Throughout her career, Underwood has often shared her enthusiasm for not just hockey, but sports altogether — including performing the opening theme to NBC’s Sunday Night Football for the last decade. Fisher is certainly a country music fan, and both he and Underwood live just 20 miles from Music City in Franklin, Tennessee.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, photo by Angela Weiss / AFP (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

When it comes to powerhouse couples, it doesn’t get much more powerful than Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. The two are both legends of their respective industries (singing and acting for Lopez, playing in the MLB for Rodriguez), so much so, in fact, that they both have nicknames based on the first initial of their first name and the first syllable of their surname. Unfortunately, the star power of J-Lo and A-Rod couldn’t hold, as the two broke off their engagement in 2021.

Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova Iglesias

Image via Instagram/@annakournikova

Enrique Iglesias has been in a relationship with Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova for over 20 years now. The pair first got together in 2001 after Kournikova appeared in Iglesias’ music video for his song “Escape,” and have since had three children together. Both Iglesias and Kournikova were major sex symbols of the early 2000s, and their relationship sparked a great deal of media attention. However, Kournikova exited the World Tennis circuit in 2004 due to sustained injuries and has since taken a lengthy sabbatical from her tour days, while Iglesias enjoys his status as one of the most famous legacy artists in the world.

Iggy Azalea and Nick Young

Nick Young and Iggy Azalea, photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV

Iggy “Fancy” Azalea and Nick “Swaggy P” Young were reportedly together for three years before Young broke the news of their separation with a simple, one-word tweet: “Single.” The pop star and professional basketball player had spent years being one of the more high-profile couples to grace the NBA, even becoming engaged in 2015. But, as isn’t uncommon in the world of celebrity dating, rumors of infidelity and toxicity swirled until the end of their time together. Time heals all, though, as Young is now married to the mother of his children and Azalea shares a child with rapper Playboi Carti.

Shakira and Gerard Piqué

Gerard Piqué and Shakira (photo by David Ramos/Getty Image)

Shakira and Spanish footballer Piqué’s 11-year relationship began at an appropriate moment: on the set of the music video for Shakira’s 2010 FIFA World Cup song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” Both the tournament and the song would be a moment of global success for the pair, and they emerged as a major power couple of the 2010s. However, a highly publicized split went down in 2022 as Piqué was accused of cheating on Shakira, all while Shakira was battling legal allegations of tax fraud. It may not have been the brightest year for the two, but given their respective talents, platforms, and overall good looks, they’ll definitely land on their feet.

Megan Thee Stallion and Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku (image via Instagram/@romelulukaku) and Megan Thee Stallion (photo by Jen Vesp)

For those who are unfamiliar with Megan Thee Stallion’s relatively new beau, Romelu Lukaku is a Belgian soccer player with a prolific goal-scoring record. They began their courtship in 2023 and were seen together at an Italian wedding of Lukaku’s former teammate, effectively ending any assumptions that Megan Thee Stallion was still in a relationship with her longtime boyfriend, Pardison Fontaine. Like Meg, Lukaku’s career has blossomed over the lst few years, winning titles, featuring significantly in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and appearing in this year’s Champions League Final — and since Lukaku can speak five languages, he might come close to matching Megan Thee Stallion’s way with words.

The 10 Biggest Pop Stars Who Dated Professional Athletes
Consequence Staff

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